‘I was bullied in school for being different. At 16, I hit a crashing point’: the awkward kid who became the world’s strongest man

As a boy, Tom Stoltman was diagnosed with autism and bullied at school. When he became depressed in his teens, his older brother, a bodybuilder, suggested a trip to the gym

‘I looked exceptional but I was out of breath’: the bodybuilder who switched to mindful movement

Ten years ago, Eugene Teo was obsessed with lifting weights. But, gradually, he realised his extreme mindset was making him unhappy. So he changed his outlook

‘Without strength training I wouldn’t survive’: the woman who joined a CrossFit gym in her 80s

At 81, Jean Stewart was frustrated by her growing frailty, so she decided to get active. Now 96, push-ups, kettlebell squats and pushing a weight-loaded sledge keep her strong

Why everyone is lifting weights – and how to get started (whatever your size)

Are reps or weights more important? Is it good if it hurts? How should I structure my workouts? Everything you need to know about resistance training, from the experts

Try again. Fail again. Fail better: eight things I’ve learned in my year of ‘lifting heavy’

I didn’t expect to enjoy heaving chunks of metal. But lifting has paid off for me in surprising ways – and shown I can change my life dramatically, writes Guardian columnist Emma Beddington

The deadlift difference: is this the exercise you need for an active and pain-free future?

Life is easier with a strong, flexible body – and this weightlifting move will help with everything from rearranging the furniture to picking up your groceries. You might even learn to love the barbell

‘If you wee yourself, you just rock on’: is incontinence inevitable for women who lift heavy?

One study found athletes were three times as likely to leak as women who did little or no exercise. But why does this happen – and can you prevent it?

Lift, rest, recover: how to start weightlifting

Strength training brings multiple benefits and anyone can do it – just as long as they start by getting their form right

The creatine conundrum: can it really help your muscles and your brain?

Long favoured by bodybuilders and other athletes, this supplement is breaking out into the mainstream, as study after study suggests a host of benefits for our minds as well as our bodies. Are there any caveats?

‘My upper arms are like jelly’: can I learn to love weightlifting in six weeks?

It builds muscle mass, improves bone density and is good for your heart, mood and sleep. But how easy is it to get started at 49, when you haven’t entered a gym for decades?